Make your own laundry detergent

There are many sites on the web that explain how to make your own laundry detergent. Here is just one example.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Our coconut allergic friend, Heather says uses the Grandma's Lye soap. The great news is, people save a ton of money when they do it!

Coconut-based Cleaning Products to avoid

This really kills me. I started buying some "green" or "environmentally friendly" or "non-toxic" cleaning products because I like staying away from harmful chemicals. Guess what? The majority of them are coconut-based and actually give me an asthmatic reaction (wheezing, eyes watering, trouble breathing) when I use them. I can't tell you how disappointed I am because otherwise, I would totally use these products! I don't think that coconut allergies are so rare that flooding the world with more coconut products isn't going to have some consequences. My husband heard about these eco-friendly products and mentioned that we should maybe start using them. I told them they all had coconut in them and he said, "Well, you're not putting them on your body or eating them." But, alas, my reaction to them is scarier than a rash or a stomach ache- they affect my breathing!

Check them out (I'll get pictures up later)- they are ALL COCONUT-BASED:

Furniture polish- "Howard Naturals- Wood Cleaner and Polish" claims on the front to be "natural vegetable-derived ingredients with essential fragrances, Invigorating Sandalwood-Tangerine" but the first two ingredients are soy and coconut oil.

Laundry Detergents-
"Seventh Generation"
Method Brand

Toilet Bowl Cleaners-
Clorox "Green Works"
Seventh Generation "Emerald Cypress and Fir"
Natrics

General Cleaners-
Clorox "Green Works" has a "coconut-based cleaning agent (nonionic surfactant)" for both their all-purpose and glass cleaners.
Even "Simple Green" cleaners give me a terrible reaction, but I can't tell what it is that I'm allergic to in them.
Natrics

You know, I have a hunch that whatever they are doing to this coconut isn't the best for the environment either if all of us are developing horrible coconut allergies.
My personal method for cleaning is one of prevention: wipe down counter tops and showers right after using them to prevent hard water stains. Also, this is shocking, but if you run a paper towel around in your toilet on the toilet brush, then get out the harder stains with a pumice stone, you can get it to look clean (can't avoid using a little bleach, but you can do without other toxic chemicals). Vinegar does wonders on glass and baking soda is great for scouring tough stains!